Some of DC 37's bereaved families tell of the lives of their spouses, brothers, sisters and children who were killed when the World Trade Center collapsed.
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Alan Feinberg
The last time Harold Fein-berg, a
retired member of Motor Vehicle Operators Local 983, and wife, Sylvia,
saw their son was in late August 2001. "Alan showed up with
a big bag of corn and tomatoes," said Mrs. Feinberg. "He
knew I loved those tomatoes and the corn from New Jersey, and he
asked me to share it with his sister."
On the morning of Sept. 11, Firefighter Alan Feinberg raced from
Ladder Co. 4, Battalion 9, in midtown, to save lives amid the raging
inferno at the World Trade Center. He was never heard from again.
Ladder Company 4 lost 15 Firefighters that morning. Alan Feinberg
was 49 years old.
"Alan died doing what he loved to do," said his sister,
Elene Kuskin, a member of Communications Workers of America Local
1180. His niece, Robin Kuskin, works at the Health Dept. and is
a member of DC 37's Local 154.
A native New Yorker, Alan Feinberg graduated from Brooklyn's Lafayette
High School, where he lettered in track. After high school, Mr.
Feinberg attended Queens College for two years, and then decided
to become a Firefighter.
Alan is survived by his wife and two children who live in Marboro,
N.J. "They held a memorial service for him at the synagogue
there, and 1,800 people showed up," says Sylvia proudly. "Alan
was very popular in the community. He coached soccer and other sports."
People in his old Bensonhurst neighborhood held another memorial
service.
"Alan had a wonderful sense of humor," said Ms. Feinberg.
"He was the best son a mother could have. Every day, I cry
a little."
—
Alfredo Alvarado
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Andrew Joseph Bailey
Four months after Alma Douglas's son perished in the 9/11 disaster,
a package from the Police Dept. arrived at the family's home. It
contained information her ambitious son Andrew had requested on
how to become a Police Officer.
Andrew Joseph Bailey, 29, is survived by a 9-year-old daughter,
Veronica Tatyana. He was the security supervisor for an investment
firm, Marsh and McLennan Advantage Security, on the 93rd floor of
Tower 1.
His mother has worked as a Medical-Surgical Technician at Metropolitan
Hospital for the last 14 years and is a member of Municipal Hospital
Employees Local 420.
"He was a pleasant young man, full of life," she said.
"He loved to play basketball and watch sports on TV. He also
was interested in computers."
Ms. Douglas was born in Jamaica, West Indies, as was Andrew's father.
Andrew came to the United States at 14. After graduating from high
school, he joined the Army. He returned to civilian life in 1991
when he was 19.
"He was a wonderful son who was very concerned about me,"
Ms. Douglas said. "We were so close."
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Walter Balcerak
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Dominick Pezzulo
Jean-ette Pezzulo met her husband Dominick while they were attending
Herbert Lehman High School in the Bronx. Although they knew each
other from the neighborhood and school, they didn't start dating
until they finished high school.
Ms. Pezzulo, now a School Aide and Local 372 member at Lehman, was
struck by how considerate Dominick was during their first date.
"We went to the World Trade Center," she recalled. "We
were by the water fountain and he was concerned that I might get
wet. That impressed me."
Dominick A. Pezzulo also returned to his alma mater to teach auto
repair, math and computer technology. During the weekends, he indulged
his interest in airplanes at a nearby aeronautics school. "He
loved to work on his Porsche too," said Ms. Pezzulo of the
sports car that he was restoring.
After seven years as a teacher, Mr. Pezzulo became a Port Authority
Police Officer. He was stationed at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Mr. Pezzulo was on his new job only13 months when he received the
urgent telephone call on Sept. 11. He and other officers commandeered
a city bus and raced downtown to the World Trade Center, where he
died. A total of 37 PAPD officers were lost in the disaster. Mr.
Pezzulo was 36 years old. He left behind a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old
daughter.
Officer Pezzulo was killed by falling debris from the towers as
he tried to rescue his fellow officers. "Just remember me,
I died trying to save you guys," were his last words.
—
Alfredo Alvarado
Sushil Solanki
The loss of computer operator Sushil Solanki weighed all the more
heavily on his survivors because Mr. Solanki was such a "devoted
family man," said his sister-in-law, Neena Solanki.
"Some days it's better than others, but they're handling it
the best they can," said Neena Solanki, speaking of her sister
and her 4-year-old nephew, Brandon.
Mr. Solanki, 35, was born in India and lived on Staten Island with
his family. "Sushil always looked forward to going to the movies
with his family and enjoyed playing cricket with his friends,"
she said.
Sushil Solanki worked for more than 12 years at the Cantor Fitzgerald
firm on the 103rd floor of Tower 1. He was one of the 658 Cantor
Fitzgerald employees who died Sept. 11, accounting for almost a
quarter of the total 2,801 dead at the World Trade Center.
The friends and families of the Cantor Fitzgerald employees suffered
immensely, but they have also set an example of strength over the
past year.
"The family is hanging in there," said Ms. Solanki, an
employee in the Workers' Compensation Division of the city Law Dept.
and a member of Accountants, Actuaries and Statisticians Local 1407.
—
Alfredo Alvarado
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Nicole Lindo
She worked at a Citibank site uptown, not in the World Trade Center.
But on the fateful day when the buildings crumbled, Nicole Lindo
went to a meeting at the bank's office on the 105th floor of Tower
1.
Later, when he heard the news, her husband Derick went to search
for her at downtown hospitals. She was never found.
The Lindos were looking forward to celebrating their 10th wedding
anniversary this year with a trip to the Caribbean. She left two
sons, Duryel, 9, and Deyvon, 6.
Ms. Lindo, 30, was a financial analyst. She had graduated from John
Jay College with a degree in criminal justice and aspired to become
a lawyer.
"Nickie was my niece, but she was like a daughter to me,"
said Emma Hicks, a Clerical Associate who has worked for the Fire
Dept. for 30 years and is a Local 1549 shop steward.
"Nickie was a very nice person," she said. "She had
a beautiful home in Brooklyn. She worked hard for her family. She
had a lot going for her."
Ms. Hicks said her son Timothy is still in therapy trying to cope
with the loss of his cousin. "He just can't accept the fact
that she's gone," she said.
On a Wednesday, just a week before Sept. 11, Ms. Hicks' fiancé
Wesley said, "Let's go visit Nickie."
"I'm so glad we did," she said. "It was the last
time I saw her."
She sadly adds: "We just have to accept it, even though no
body was recovered. It's hard to accept the way she went out - just
ashes to dust."
—
Walter Balcerak
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Paul Salvio
Paul Salvio was considering not going to work on the morning of
Sept. 11, 2001. The 27-year-old commodities clerk and Brooklyn native
had a doctor's appointment that Tuesday.
"But he decided to go in for a half day," said his mother
Rose Marie Giallombardo, a School Aide at PS 104 and a member of
Local 372. "He wanted to make sure his work was done and not
have his
co-workers have to do it."
In the family backyard in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, Salvio
developed a passion for basketball. "The yard was always full
with kids from the neighborhood playing ball. He loved basketball
and music. He was just a great kid."
After high school, Mr. Salvio began his career at Morgan Stanley
at 5 World Trade Center, where he witnessed the 1993 bombing of
the TwinTowers and worked his way up to commodities trader.
"He liked to call me from work and disguise his voice,"
said his mother. "Even though he was my oldest son, he always
fooled me."
On Sept. 11, Mr. Salvio was in his fifth year at a new firm, Jack
Carl Futures on the 92nd floor of Tower 1. He never made it to the
doctor. All 69 employees of the firm perished in the attack. His
body was never recovered.
"I'm glad that Paul's still remembered and grateful for this
tribute," said Ms. Giallombardo.
—
Alfredo Alvarado